Adivasi Man Exhumes Sister's Body to Withdraw Bank Funds in Odisha

Unusual Incident at Odisha Bank

In a shocking event in Keonjhar district, Odisha, an Adivasi man named Jeetu Munda exhumed his sister's remains on Monday to present them at a local bank. His aim was to prove her death, which occurred two months prior, in order to access funds deposited in her name.

This unusual act took place at the Maliposi branch of the Odisha Grameen Bank, a rural banking institution associated with the Indian Overseas Bank.

Jeetu sought to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the account of his deceased sister, Kalra Munda, who passed away on January 26. According to the police inspector, Kiran Prasad Sahu, the bank staff had not provided clear guidance on the withdrawal process.

Jeetu expressed his frustration, stating, "I visited the bank multiple times, but they insisted I bring the account holder to withdraw the money. Despite informing them of her death, they refused to assist me without her presence."

Out of desperation, he decided to exhume her body.

The police later retrieved the skeletal remains and reburied them, as reported.

Kalra Munda was left without immediate family, having lost her husband and child previously, making Jeetu her only surviving relative.

On the following day, the Indian Overseas Bank attributed the incident to a misunderstanding regarding the claim settlement process and Jeetu's reluctance to follow the established procedures.

The bank's statement described Jeetu as being inebriated and disruptive, claiming he placed the remains in front of the bank while demanding access to his sister's account. They noted that this created a distressing situation and promptly notified local authorities.

The bank asserted that there was no harassment involved and stated they were working with local officials to expedite the issuance of a death certificate to facilitate the claim settlement.